Franz Froese: pioneer and businessman; born 31 May 1825 in South Russia to Johann Johann Froese and Elisabeth (Froese) Froese. He had one sister, Elisabeth. The family moved to Rudnerweide, Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, South Russia in 1826, and Franz was baptized there in 1844. On 18 March 1851, he joined a <em>Kleine Gemeinde</em> church in Neukirch, Russia, ten days before he married for the first time. His first wife’s name is not known. She died the next year, leaving no children. On 12 June 1862, Franz married Anna Braun (1844-1908), the daughter of Isaac and Margaretha (Loewen) Braun of Mariawohl. The couple had ten children, eight of whom survived. On 17 July 1874, the Froese family immigrated to Canada, landing in Quebec before continuing their journey to Manitoba.

Franz grew up in Rudnerweide, the only son of a small family. Franz’s father died quite young and his mother later remarried, but there were no children from that marriage. In the 1860s, Franz, together with his wife and children, moved to Heuboden in the Borozenko settlement of Russia, where Franz established a successful farm. As changes in government policy began to make Mennonites uneasy, many decided on emigration. Franz and his family were among the first to leave. On the way, one of the Froese daughters died, but the rest of the family arrived safely.

After the settlers landed in Quebec, they made their way to Manitoba, where a controversy arose. Some of the immigrants wanted to stay in the East Reserve(now the Rural Municipality of Hanover), while others preferred to move further west to Scratching River, near the current location of Morris. The group sent out scouts to assess prospects in the area, and Franz was one of the people chosen for the task. He and his family stayed in Winnipeg for a time as they arranged for land before moving to the area that later became Rosenort. Once there, Franz set out to farm again. Together with three other men, he also bought a windmill from Steinbach and moved it to Rosenort, where the four carried on a milling business until 1890. Finally, Franz retired, moving to live with his children after Anna’s death. Franz died on 20 January 1913 in Rosenort, Manitoba.